Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's decision to land on a runway that was covered with ice and snow, without obtaining current wind information. Factors were the 20-knot tailwind and the snow-covered runway.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On February 18, 2000, about 1810 eastern standard time, a Cessna 310R, N87341, was substantially damaged while landing at the Sandusky Airport, Sandusky, Ohio. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed for the positioning flight that departed Pontiac, Michigan. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed, and the flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to a NTSB Form 6120.1/2 filed by the operator, the pilot executed an IFR approach at Sandusky. The pilot did not check local winds, but was advised by snow removal personnel that runway 27 was being plowed. With a tail wind, the airplane touched down on the snow covered 3,559 foot runway.
According to an Ohio State Police Officer, the winds were out of the northeast at 20 knots. In addition, the Operator's Chief Pilot stated to the Officer that the runway was plowed but had not been treated with either salt or sand.
According to the pilot, he executed an IFR approach. Once in VMC, he had "good visibility," but the airplane was too high to complete the approach so he circled to the south to loss altitude. The airplane touched down on the runway approximately 500 feet from the approach end. Unable to stop, it departed the far end of the runway, and impacted a snow bank. The pilot added that the runway had been recently plowed, but an increase in wind had blown some of the snow back, which then melted. While airborne, the pilot estimated that 85 percent of the runway was covered with ice, but thought he could stop the airplane before reaching the end. In addition, the pilot had never landed at Sandusky before.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, the airplane had been placed on jackets, and both propellers were removed before he arrived at the scene. The inspector added that he classified the damage as substantial because of structural damage to the nose gear attaching point, damage to the forward bulkhead, and damage to longerons in the nose section of the airplane.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# NYC00LA083